Low impedance electrical connecting means for spaced-apart conductors

Abstract

Multi-contact electrical connector for connecting a first plurality of conductors to a second plurality of conductors comprises an insulating housing having a plurality of side-by-side contact terminals therein, each terminal being a one-piece stamping having first and second contact portions for engagement with a first and second conductor respectively. The first and second contact portions also have first and second bypass contact surfaces thereon which are against each other. The spring means for maintaining contact force comprises a spring loop which extends circuitously from the first contact portion to the second contact portion. In use, the spring loop maintains the contact forces at all of the contact interfaces and the current flows from the first conductor through the first contact portion, through the bypass contact surfaces, through the second contact portion, and to the second conductor. The spring loop does not serve as a current path and self-inductance in the contact is thereby minimized.

I claim: 
     
       1. A multi-contact electrical connector for electrically connecting a first plurality of electrical conductors to a second plurality of electrical conductors with individual conductor-to-conductor connections, said first plurality of conductors having spaced-apart side-by-side first conductor contact surfaces, said second plurality of conductors having spaced-apart side-by-side second conductor contact surfaces, said first conductor contact surfaces being opposed to, and spaced from, said second conductor contact surfaces, said electrical connector comprising: a plurality of flat stamped one-piece contact terminals of conductive resilient metal, each of said terminals having all parts thereof lying in a single plane and having first and second contact portions which are adjacent to each other, first and second terminal contact surfaces on said first and second contact portions respectively, said terminal contact surfaces facing in opposite directions, first and second bypass contact surfaces on said first and second contact portions respectively, said first and second bypass contact surfaces facing each other, said first and second terminal contact surfaces being remote from each other and said first and second bypass contact surfaces being proximate to each other, said bypass contact surfaces being between said first and second terminal contact surfaces,   each of said terminals having integral spring loop means extending circuitously and laterally between said first and second contact portions, said loop means being resiliently deformable upon movement of said first and second contact portions relatively towards each other, said first and second bypass contact surfaces being movable against, and relatively over, each other upon movement of said first and second contact portions relatively towards each other,   housing means for said terminals, said housing means having a plurality of side-by-side terminal-receiving cavities, each of said terminals being received in one of said cavities with said terminal contact surfaces of each terminal being normally disposed outside of said housing means, said cavities comprising narrow slots which support said terminals against buckling and leave said spring loop means free to deflect along their entire lengths, and   conductor supporting and moving means for supporting said first conductor contact surfaces against said first terminal contact surfaces, for supporting said second conductor contact surfaces against said second terminal contact surfaces, for moving said first conductor contact surfaces relatively towards said second conductor contact surfaces, and for holding said conductor contact surfaces in their moved positions whereby, during movement of said conductor contact surfaces towards said second conductor contact surfaces, said loop means will be resiliently deformed and will impose contact forces which will maintain said bypass contact surfaces against each other, which will maintain said first terminal contact surfaces against said first conductor contact surfaces, and which will maintain said second terminal contact surfaces against said second conductor contact surfaces, and said bypass contact surfaces will permit current flowing from each of said first conductors to each of said second conductors electrically to bypass said loop means, thereby to minimize self-inductance in each of said terminals.     
     
     
       2. A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 1, each of said terminals comprising a base portion, said second contact portion comprising said base portion, said loop means extending beside one edge of said base portion. 
     
     
       3. A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 2, said base portion being straight, said second terminal contact surface comprising the other edge of said base portion. 
     
     
       4. A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 3, said base portion having an arm extending from one end thereof towards said first contact portion, said arm having a free end, said second bypass contact surface being on said free end, said first contact portion being against said free end. 
     
     
       5. A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 4, said loop means of each of said terminals being generally serpentine and extending from the other end of said base portion to said first contact portion. 
     
     
       6. A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 5, said loop means being sinuous. 
     
     
       7. A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in either of claims 4 or 5, said loop means of each of said terminals being generally arcuate. 
     
     
       8. A multi-contact electrical connector as set forth in claim 7, said loop means comprising a spiral having at least two arcuate convolutions extending from the center thereof, one of said convolutions extending to said first contact portion and the other one of said convolutions extending to said second contact portion.